The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-27
Notorious COuntsrfeiters Apprshsndsd IN This
City by Uncle Sans Agents.
After Tirelsss Search That Has Been Secretly
Carried On for Years.
Probability That Dangerous Gang Of Grim
insls has at Last Been Broken Up.
How the Arrests Were Brought About by
Secret Service Detectives, Aided by
Marshal HawkiDs and Deputies.

The arrests of two of the most notorious
counte1teiiers of the country occurred yes
terday at 1890 o'clock in this city. These
men are known by various pseudonyms,
but their real names are Nike Hemmer and
Jim Fox. They were both born and reared
in Louisville, Kentucky, and their whole
lives have been characterized by wicked
ness and crime. Though they are only
twenty-eight and twenty-five years of age,
respectively, they are old in evil doing. 1t
is very strange part of the story, too, that
they both belong to respectable families.
Hemmer,s father is reputed to be wealthy,
owning several important business blocks
in Louisville. While still young they
had acquired unenviable notoriety, and at
various times they have been footpads, ex-
pert safe blowers, counterfeiters and what
not. They are undoubtedly among the
shrewdest, boldest villains the country has
produced for many day.
Their native city was the scene Of their
first operations. Fox acted in the role of
burglar, was caught several times, and
finally sent to prison. He has since served
terms in the State Prison of Michigan, in
the Northern and Jacksonville peniten-
tiaries OF this State, and in 0hio's prison
for burglary, Swallowing and the like.
The exact time when Hemmer and Fox
Joined fortunes in their nesarious work is
not definitely known, but for the last five
years they have made and passed counter
felt money by the thousands of dollars,
and until now successfully eluded the vigil
liant eye OF the officers. Fox, who is the
junior OF Hemmer by three years, did the
head work and Hemmer acted as slugger,
the latter being a powerfully-builr man
and desperate character. At one time
they were tracked by the Louisville officers
and Fox was caught. He escaped soon
after by jumping from the second story
window of the courthouse and slipping
awsy. At the same time Hemmer
armed himself with double-bsr-
relied shotgun and defied the officers
who had come to arrest HIM and
succeeded in driving them off. Their
headquarters were generally on q fist-boat
which they hoated up and down the Ohio
River, guiding it from one shore to an
other. Constant communication was kept
up with their confederates, near and
abroad. that they might be warned OF APP
preaching danger. But it was finally from
their friends that they began to get into
trouble.
From their boat on the Ohio River they
were accustomed to run up to Cincinnati
and Indianapolis, passing their money and
quietly Withdrawing.
About year and half ago Major Bauer.
OF Louisville, who was in the employ of
tire United States Secret Service. was put
work by Detective T. B. Carter, and others.
The agents of the Secret Service went to
work with vim. On frequent occasions
they worked themselves, as they thought,
into the favor of Hemmer and Fox. They
spent their money with them. and
in every way endeavored to gain sufficient
evidence for their arrest. Fox
displayed remarkable shrewd-
ness. He could never be en-
inf
for fear he might lose control of himself.
After the detectives had congratulated
themselves that they were weaving the coils,
Hemmer and Fox asked them upon one
occasion if they had any more money to
spend for their enjoyment. ''If you have"
they said, you can stay with US; If you
haven't you can skip out. We know. you,
be made then for the want of sufficient evil
dence. Their knowledge of men seemed
to be intuitive, and their escapes from JUS
tice were truly marvellous. Detectives were
upon their track almost constantly, but
feared to make arrests until there was DOS
tive and unquestionable proofs of their
guilt.
exchange money with the criminals, but for
bid the detectives to make too extravagant
outlays IN this scheme. A detective had
at one time been associated with them in
the disguise of a counterfeiter. He was
approached by Fox, who wanted him to
buy 500 worth of counterfeit money. The
detective didn't object to smaller amount,
but 500 was a little large. Fox, looking
him fUll in the eye, said: Agents OF the
secret earvice are not permitted to buy
much at time, are they2 / know you;
YOU are snotasr one OF those d-n SPIES"
Hemmer ana foz could never be persuaded
% board train. II they travelled IL wasn't
" the railroad plan, at least not on the
passenger trains. They took some other
means best known to themselves, gem
orally hiding in freight cars, etc. Reports
Of thef underhand doings began to be
knowpfar and wide, until the authorities
at Washington recognized them as two Of
the wost villains in the country.
Finally they began to operate in the
northen district of Ohio. Then it was
that thir career began to draw to a close,
at leastfor the present. Two of their pals
were pssing their money in the vicinity
Of Clevland. They were not apparently
as shred as their fnstigators. and were at
last arrsted. 1t was through the instru-
mentally Of Major Bauer that these two
membes Of the gang were hunted down.
One ofthem is known as Sam Bernard
the nam OF the other is not yet given, as
be has trned States evidence and revealed